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[Radical_3d]

Totally expected. The Americas is the territory where adoption of all digital only has been faster. There is a joke here about a certainpublic that makes choices that end up hurting them but it's been a rough 250 years for them, so I'll give you guys a break.

 

[PlayStaytion]

It's C, I bet they made more than all closed studios in the last 25 years combined.

 

[bender]

Not a disc.

 

[Bondo]

Gamers saying fuck gamestop to the only remaining store that caters to our hobby.
Gamestop represents ownership and the ability to trade/sell and do things you are entitled to do with ownership. We will regret the day when we dont have them as an option - like em or not.

 

[Grildon Tundy]

And your contribution to society is ... what?

M Muppet345 , is that you?

Japanese Culture (I'm an Expert) | Know Your Meme

Japanese Culture (I'm an Expert) refers to a copypasta which spread primarily on NeoGAF making fun of a poster who claimed to be an expert on Japanese cult

knowyourmeme.com

 

[Diablos]

M Muppet345 , is that you?

Japanese Culture (I'm an Expert) | Know Your Meme

Japanese Culture (I'm an Expert) refers to a copypasta which spread primarily on NeoGAF making fun of a poster who claimed to be an expert on Japanese cult

knowyourmeme.com

Lol. Man, that's one of the best posts ever. So bad, it's good.

 

[JohnnyFootball]

The reason there isn't a physical disc is that the game would leak weeks before release.

 

[German Shocks]

The reason there isn't a physical disc is that the game would leak weeks before release.

That's not the only reason, son.

 

[Skifi28]

Rockstar is making HUGE mistake

 

[asdasdasdbb]

The reason there isn't a physical disc is that the game would leak weeks before release.

Mentioned already, they could have done Key Disc or done something like Jedi Survivor (which only includes the Prologue on the disc)

 

[Bojji]

The reason there isn't a physical disc is that the game would leak weeks before release.

Requirement for day 1 patch would serve the same function, while game would still have disc and ownership "option".

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

Are they going to open the boxes and take the digital codes out and keep them behind the counter, but still sell the opened package as "new"?

 

[Edgelord79]

Yep. No disc no buy. Rockstar is making HUGE mistake

Huh

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Yeah, but those 11 pre-orders are for Series X

 

[UniformDeliverance]

It's GTA. Most people will buy it in whatever format they have to. You're not going to get a measurable population to boycott this game on the grounds of physical release.

Frankly they are probably coming out way ahead here. Don't have to pay printing and shipping costs for discs, and they don't lose potential sales in the second hand used market.

In fact.. ugh we really need to compile a list of people who are claiming "no physical no buy" and check in a year from now and see if they stuck to their guns.

 

[uncreativename]

Now console gamers get to go through what PC gamers went through over a decade ago

I remember buying Shogun 2 Total War at Gamespot and it was literally a disc that redeemed a Steam code. Similar experience with Dragon Age Inquisition, too lol.

 

[ShadyAcshuns]

There's absolutely no reason to sell boxes with codes. None.

 

[asdasdasdbb]

There's absolutely no reason to sell boxes with codes. None.

Stop Resale is the main reason. That extends so that people who buy the game will still have it when GTA Online comes out.

 

[Magic Carpet]

Preordering is just sooooo stupid.
The new thing is paying more to play early. Like I did with Starfield.
Don't do that either. I've learned my lesson.

 

[Bojji]

There's absolutely no reason to sell boxes with codes. None.

They want to kill the used market.

 

[JohnnyFootball]

Requirement for day 1 patch would serve the same function, while game would still have disc and ownership "option".

You realize that would mean you are saying its OK to shut off single player games.

 

[Stuart360]

I think if the next gen consoles launched without disk drives (and they could), i think there would still be people on here moaning about the lack of physical games lol.

 

[Zephyranthes]

I'm still kind of mystified at why Rockstar even bothered with the "physical" version. Video game sales at brick-and-mortars is already a dying market, and doubly so for an M-rated game that parents aren't likely to be picking up for their kids when they hit up Walmart on Black Friday.

 

[Judge Magister]

 

[Bojji]

You realize that would mean you are saying its OK to shut off single player games.

Many games already did this and they can shut down digital games whenever they want. There are different tiers to this:

You own the disc, game will work forever as long as disc is in good condition:
Tier 1 - game fully playable from disc, no internet required, the GOLD standard
Tier 2 - game fully playable but full of bugs (like Cyberpunk)

You own the disc but game requires servers to function (at least the initial setup)
Tier 3 - game has some data but still requires some kind of download to experience everything (like CP complete on PS5)
Tier 4 - game has some data but still requires some kind of download to function (like Crimson Desert)
Tier 5 - game disc functions as DRM, zero data on it

You don't own shit:
Tier 6 - code in the box, tied to PSN/XL account

EVERYTHING is better than this, you can still sell games from green and orange categories - you can only wipe your ass with game code from red category after you redeem it.

 

[Woggleman]

Netflix hurt Blockbuster
I Tunes hurt Sam Goody.

VIdeo games were just the last one standing. Good or bad that is what it is.

 

[TheRaidenPT]

We're entering an increasingly isolated and lonely world. I have better memories of some midnight releases than actually playing the game.

I'll never forget the Modern Warfare 2 and Wrath of the Lich King launches, they were pretty good

 

[VulcanRaven]

Yep. No disc no buy. Rockstar is making HUGE mistake

I wish that was the case but it will still sell a lot. People don't want to miss the newest GTA.

 

[Sticks]

Dont let Gamestop down Danjin44

 

[ResilientBanana]

I'm surprised retailers aren't fighting back. GameStop, Walmart, Amazon could just threaten not to stock the actual consoles anymore. If publishers begin to dictate terms to this extent, it is a direct threat to these retailers, who ultimately have the cards here.

Amazon exists.

 

[StereoVsn]

Many games already did this and they can shut down digital games whenever they want. There are different tiers to this:

You own the disc, game will work forever as long as disc is in good condition:
Tier 1 - game fully playable from disc, no internet required, the GOLD standard
Tier 2 - game fully playable but full of bugs (like Cyberpunk)

You own the disc but game requires servers to function (at least the initial setup)
Tier 3 - game has some data but still requires some kind of download to experience everything (like CP complete on PS5)
Tier 4 - game has some data but still requires some kind of download to function (like Crimson Desert)
Tier 5 - game disc functions as DRM, zero data on it

You don't own shit:
Tier 6 - code in the box, tied to PSN/XL account

EVERYTHING is better than this, you can still sell games from green and orange categories - you can only wipe your ass with game code from red category after you redeem it.

Yeah, at least as long as the disk represents ownership (even if imperfect like Nintendo key cards), you can resell, buy used, borrow or lend a copy, etc…. It supports local shops and used market.

Code in a box is just a dick move and it's absolutely not to make sure game isn't spoiled. It's to kill off used market and get bigger share of their $80-100 basically all digital title.

 

[Blantyre]

You will own nothing and you will be happy

 

[apple_of_enlightenment]

I'm surprised retailers aren't fighting back. GameStop, Walmart, Amazon could just threaten not to stock the actual consoles anymore. If publishers begin to dictate terms to this extent, it is a direct threat to these retailers, who ultimately have the cards here.

In the old days retailers had this power and they'd take up to 70% of the markup if I remember. These days they've lost that card. Amazon are not part of this btw.

 

[IntentionalPun]

I'm still kind of mystified at why Rockstar even bothered with the "physical" version. Video game sales at brick-and-mortars is already a dying market, and doubly so for an M-rated game that parents aren't likely to be picking up for their kids when they hit up Walmart on Black Friday.

This is absurd. Full game sales at brick and mortar are still an incredibly significant portion of those sales and it's barely ever mattered that a game is M rated.

 

[The_Observer]

As someone who is a physical supporter still, why wouldn't I buy this digitally, halving the price with someone?
I always say that as long as there is a disc (even without the full game) I'm better off with it as I can't lose access to it etc. But in this case there is absolutely nothing to gain except for an empty box. No, thanks. They just lost a sale this way because I will just use the game sharing feature with someone.

 

[Danjin44]

Dont let Gamestop down Danjin44

Honestly it would be terrible if my local EBgames gets shutdown.

I can easily pre-order games from there without pay anything.

People might have bad experience with GameStop/EBgames but I never did.

 

[Trilobit]

The disc version of Indiana Jones barely held a 3rd of the game if I remember correctly. Devs don't release full games with 2 discs like they should.

Discs are a dead format for AAA games anyway so redeemable codes will be the last physical remnant.

 

[Woggleman]

If they dont think physicals will sell enough why not make it special order instead of mass producing them?

 

[ResilientBanana]

I haven't bought a game at the store since Xbox 360.

 

[IntentionalPun]

It'll still sell a ton but the early pre-order crowd is the same crowd who will care the most about the "it's just a code in a box" conversation.

It'll be fascinating to see how the general gaming public react. Some will buy it because they don't know any better, others because they really do want the box, and then it'll likely be how the game is gifted to tons of people as it's most convenient and gives them something physical to "open" but that's not nearly as much of a factor as it was the last time a GTA game dropped.

 

[ResurrectedContrarian]

difficult thread... because I can't decide which I hate more, GameStop or GTA.

can they both lose somehow?

 

[SportsFan581]

You know there will be a bunch of buyers that didn't realize the physical edition was diskless. If it's a digital only release, just make it digital only - no need for the box with a code. The cardboard gift-code cards are more honest at least.

 

[clarky]

I'm surprised retailers aren't fighting back. GameStop, Walmart, Amazon could just threaten not to stock the actual consoles anymore. If publishers begin to dictate terms to this extent, it is a direct threat to these retailers, who ultimately have the cards here.

You think retailers are going to boycott Sony and Xbox's products because Rockstar isn't printing a disc?

Their beef would be with Rockstar not Sony or Microsoft lmfao.

And no bricks and mortar places do not hold any cards these days.

 

[Orbital2060]

With there being no need for paying all those brick and mortar fees that should make big savings on game production. No need to fill warehouses full of disc boxes or need to send trucks around to deliver them.

Man, the prices are going to come tumbling down now as things get more efficient.

I doubt prices are coming down. But GameStop reliance on profits from reselling the copies they bought once was not a good deal for the publishers. Buy 1 copy, resell it a million times.

Now you can sell digital licenses and every sale goes into your own pocket.

Advertising too is going to take a hit especially with subscription services like game pass where you no longer need to soend hundreds of millions on ads for each game.

A combination of that is making retail stores more and more a thing of the past. Like record stores that used to sell LPs and cassettes.

 

[SportsFan581]

It wouldn't surprise me at all if retail drastically reduces shelf space for next-gen. Without getting a cut of the software, it doesn't pay them to spend money promoting these things. Retail has accepted some really low profit margins on console in the past, you've got to figure those days are gone, too.

 

[Zephyranthes]

This is absurd. Full game sales at brick and mortar are still an incredibly significant portion of those sales and it's barely ever mattered that a game is M rated.

The facts at hand do not support this. According to this article (and I've seen similar figures reported elsewhere), physical game sales made up $1.5B of the total $60B gaming market in the US last year. If we remove the roughly $5B in console/accessories sales from the $60B total, then comparing software-to-software, physical copies represent about 3% of the market. Of that 3%, we can assume a significant portion are sold through online storefronts, though I couldn't find exact figures on that. So you're looking at maybe 2% overall where people are going in-person to stores to buy physical games. Not "incredibly significant" by any measure.

I don't like the fact that physical game media is dying, but it's a fact nonetheless.

 

[ShadowkillXNA]

Yep. No disc no buy. Rockstar is making HUGE mistake

 

[IntentionalPun]

The facts at hand do not support this. According to this article (and I've seen similar figures reported elsewhere), physical game sales made up $1.5B of the total $60B gaming market in the US last year. If we remove the roughly $5B in console/accessories sales from the $60B total, then comparing software-to-software, physical copies represent about 3% of the market. Of that 3%, we can assume a significant portion are sold through online storefronts, though I couldn't find exact figures on that. So you're looking at maybe 2% overall where people are going in-person to stores to buy physical games. Not "incredibly significant" by any measure.

I don't like the fact that physical game media is dying, but it's a fact nonetheless.

As a percentage of full game sales, it's much higher than what you are throwing around here and it also heavily varies by region. and by game. The facts do support that, it's around 1/4th of total full game sales as of last year for Sony:

A more apt comparison is that physical software accounted for 24% of unit sales. While this is still a low %, it still means 73 million physical games were sold during the year.

And that number includes games only available digitally. Many games end up selling closer to 1/3rd physical vs. their digital counterpart. While the US is the biggest market, it also leans more digital than other markets, so it can be misleading to only report on what the US is up to in this area.

Still really significant amount of business being done. And those physical sales represent a significant amount of people who then turn around and contribute to the real bread winner which are MTX.

 

[ShadyAcshuns]

Stop Resale is the main reason. That extends so that people who buy the game will still have it when GTA Online comes out.

They want to kill the used market.

Both can be achieved without plastic boxes with codes. Just sell digitally.

 

[Guerilla Munch]

We still have no idea what the true scope of the game is, but it's certain to be unprecedented. What if it's 300+ gigs? Are people expecting them to ship it on multiple blu rays? I'm not a fan of digital when I can avoid it but GTA exists in its own dimension outside the industry at this point.